Special February in 2024
Jon Martens, AICP, CAPP
Senior Consultant, Walker Consultants
This year is off to an exciting start! With 2024 being a Leap year, we get an extra day in February! I don’t know about you, but I can always use extra time. That extra day gives us time to celebrate several special observances. These include Black History Month, Lunar New Year, Paczki Day, Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday), Presidents’ Day, and of course, Valentine’s Day.
Valentine’s Day has always been one of those mysterious holidays designed to challenge my relationship skills. The first year of my marriage I waited till the last minute to get a gift. As a result, I headed to the grocery store for some flowers and a card. There were none available from what I remember, (or the line was too long), so I got creative with a frozen pizza that included a deal for a free movie ticket. The next year I went with a vacuum cleaner. Another year I gifted a hair dryer. Those years didn’t go well. The third year I was away on a long deployment with the U.S. Army, so it was easier not to screw up, at least in person. I think I sent her a t-shirt and a card with meaningful words. Turns out, a simple card with a meaningful handwritten note was what she really appreciated.
Thinking about how we communicate with others is an important lesson. It’s easy for me to oversimplify and provide a gift to check off a box. My best efforts included putting some thought and feeling behind them. As we go forth and reach out to others, we need to think about what has meaning for those with whom you’re communicating. Think about hobbies, family, or special interests. If you aren’t sure, it’s ok to ask! It might just be a frozen pizza… You never know.
